§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care; and if he will make a statement; [155109]
(2) what steps he will take following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to ensure that all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have access to a multidisciplinary healthcare team: [155110]
(3) whether, following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, he will make it a priority for all hospitals and general practitioner surgeries to have access to non-invasive ventilation for the treatment of people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; [155111]
(4) whether, following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, he will make it a priority for all hospitals and general practitioner surgeries to have access to (a) a spirometer and (b) adequate training in the use of spirometry; [155112]
(5) if, following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, he will provide funding for pulmonary rehabilitation courses to run in every 1186W hospital for all patients who consider themselves functionally disabled by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [155113]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answers 1 March 2004]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence's guidance on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary and secondary care has not yet been published. It would be inappropriate to make a statement until the publication of the NICE'S formal guidance on COPD.
Primary care trusts, in partnership with local stakeholders, have the responsibility for deciding what services to provide for their populations, including those with respiratory disease. They are best placed to understand local health needs and commission services to meet them.